McCutchen, Hart throw in Minor League game

Jenifer Langosch/MLB.com

A good number of spectators — some in the organization and some not — flocked to Pirate City on Monday to watch Kevin Hart make a start against a Phillies Minor League squad. Hart, who is fighting for the fifth spot in the rotation, threw 74 pitches in 3 1/3 innings. There were 35 balls and 39 strikes in that bunch.

Here’s the rest of his line: 3 K, 4 BB, 2 WP, 3 ER, 5 H (note: Three of those five hits were infield dribblers. Only one was hit with any authority)

Said Hart afterward: “I’m starting to feel more comfortable in the mechanics and windup. It was good to get out here and throw more pitches. I’m starting to feel better.”

The control wasn’t phenomenal by any means, but Hart didn’t look nearly as wild as he had in his three Grapefruit League outings. He had walked 13 in 4 2/3 innings before Monday.

More comments from Hart about the outing in a bit on pirates.com.

***

Up in Clearwater, Daniel McCutchen – Hart’s competition for that rotation spot — took the mound against the Phillies’ Triple-A team. McCutchen pitched four scoreless innings, walked one and allowed three hits. He struck out two and threw 61 pitches.

McCutchen’s results and control continue to be better than Hart’s, but management’s decision on who to give this spot to isn’t all going to be results-based.

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.